Skin Wars’ Michael Mejia Comes Out as HIV-Positive

Skin Wars’ gay Latino artist Michael Mejia is coming out as HIV-positive and embracing his “positivity” to battle what he sees as the real epidemic – stigma.

Cover Story: http://bit.ly/MejiaPlus

LOS ANGELES
For its November/December cover story, Plus magazine sat down with artist and former Skin Wars contestant Michael Mejia for an exclusive interview in which he opens up for the first time about being HIV-positive. Mejia, who made it to the top four on Skin Wars, has an impressive clientele, including celebrities Jason Derulo, Claudia Schiffer, and Timbaland. In his exclusive interview with Plus magazine, the 26-year-old talks about the rampant stigma associated with HIV and AIDS, his artistic collaborations, his amazingly supportive mother, and the rite of passage that had him literally dangling from hooks piercing his skin.

“Michael was incredibly open,” says Plus Senior Editor Jacob Anderson-Minshall, who interviewed Mejia. “Not only in terms of answering what could be seen as invasive questions, but his willingness to share his art work, and even in terms of allowing us to see him naked — physically and emotionally. I was also really impressed with his commitment to coming out poz as a means of fighting HIV stigma, which he calls the real epidemic. He knows that coming out as HIV-positive could impact his life in a variety of ways, but he never showed any hesitance to do so. Which is precisely why he’s going to be an amazing role model.”

Find excerpts from the Q&A with Michael Mejia below:

On discovering his positive status:
“It has certainly been difficult. My initial reaction was fear. I thought I would be ill for the rest of my life and die from it. Fortunately, we are in an era of incredible scientific advancement where HIV is now a manageable condition that people can live with, continue to be healthy, and live a normal life span without complications. The difficult part about being HIV-positive hasn’t been accepting the diagnosis, but coping with the absurd amount of stigma that comes along with it. Everyone is full of fear when they think of HIV and it’s because of ignorance. This fear is holding people back from getting tested regularly and keeping HIV-positive people from sharing their status. We need to end HIV stigma because stigma is the real illness we should be alarmed by.”

On his decision to come out publicly:
“There are several reasons why I’m coming out. One is because people aren’t informed enough about HIV and are still stuck in the trauma that has carried over from previous years. I’m hoping that people will read this, gain perspective and lose the stigma and fear against HIV. Another reason is because I know there are many people out there that have been recently diagnosed and may feel alone—thinking they are the only ones. But the truth is you are not [alone], there are more than 36 million people living with HIV in the world! And it’s OK, we’re all in this together and we need to support each other in any way we can. I want people to understand that having HIV is not a death sentence anymore, it’s a lifestyle that requires a strict treatment regimen and healthy living.”

On telling his mother he was HIV-positive:
“Mom was the last person I told out of my closest family and friends. She literally collapsed on my legs and cried. But I knew it was because of this same fear coming from misinformation. My sister and I began to break down the facts about what it means to have HIV today and she immediately stood up and started listening. Mom is a very smart woman. She is constantly keeping herself informed. Knowledge is power. I feel empowered and I believe we can end the way people perceive this virus. Today…she said, in a happy tone, “Michael, HIV is simply a virus that can be treated, that’s all!”

On his Skin Wars fourth place finish:
“I had a fantastic time exploring different mediums and techniques, and was definitely side tracked from body painting into a more liberated and well-rounded artistic adventure, where I was making crazy props, like the octopus flotation device for the underwater challenge. So I understand the judges’ frustration with me for not following the rules.”

On being suspended by fish hooks:
“I have done two human suspensions. A suspension is the act of suspending a human body from hooks that have been put through body piercing. The first time was out of curiosity: to have what many claimed to be a euphoric experience. It was definitely a ritual. My closest friends and family were there, and like the Native American Sun Dances, it was my passage into manhood. I was 20 at the time and it was an experience of full emotion, vulnerability, honesty, and trust. The second time... I was exploring pain and suffering and this too was a form of meditation.”

Cover Story: http://bit.ly/MejiaPlus

Additional November/December Issue Content Includes: